Hunting down big Zinfandels

There are few things that enthrall wine people more than finding that big bottle of flavor that exceeds every expectation.  And when the search is for wines that are powerful but still elegant, Zinfandel will always be in the running.  That’s because the best of these are in a class far above the typical “Zin fruit bomb”.

Of course, a good portion of surprisingly good Zinfandels come from California locales like Paso Robles, Mendocino, Napa, Lodi, and Sonoma.  And each of these areas holds endless opportunities for a Zin hunt you won’t soon forget, with more than enough wineries offering selections to fill just about any cellar.

But if there ever was a perfect spot in California’s Sonoma wine country to move the Zin hunt up another notch, it’s the Dry Creek Valley appellation.  As the Dry Creek locals say, “It’s the hot dry weather combined with rich well-drained soils that makes our wines so distinctive”.  Of course, that’s only part of the story.

Their success also has a lot to do with the wide variety of sloping terrain that is compressed into such a small area.  The relatively narrow Dry Creek Valley provides ready harvest access to every terrain from flat, rolling, and very hilly slopes, making it possible to efficiently obtain blending fruit for Zins that are nicely priced yet of top quality.  This is all due to a confluence of conditions that will surely keep them in the running as a one of the best Zinfandel regions for years to come.

As a bonus to the visitor, this sleepy area maintains a rural flavor that Napa enjoyed 30 years ago.  A quiet drive while stopping at small wineries producing Zinfandels that are often off the chart, is well worth the effort.

Take Zichichi Family Vineyards for example.  They are a small operation, out toward the end of West Dry Creek Road, specializing in Zinfandels with a bold character that represents a wonderful combination of mature vineyards combined with Dry Creek’s soil and climate.  It all comes together with excellent winemaking.  Even “The Z”’s barrel samples are full of ripe bouquets and potent red fruit on the mid-palate.

Alcohol for many of their vintages can reach 15.7%, almost an after-dinner wine, but there are still soft enough to work with barbeque ribs or pork loin.  These Zinfandels are also perfect with a chocolate dessert, rich and full.